LUDLOW – The sober house for men which is being run by the Michael J. Dias Foundation will open in Springfield in approximately a week, program director Nick Marchetti said.

Grace Dias of Ludlow started the Michael J. Dias Foundation, a non-profit organization, with the goal of raising money to build a “sober home” where drug abusing men can go to beat addiction.

Dias started the foundation after her high achieving son committed suicide in May 2009. Dias said her son, who was third in his class at Ludlow High School and a pianist, had a problem with abusing prescription drugs and steroids. He went to Northeastern University, but came home after one semester. He killed himself in May, 2009. He was 19.

Michael’s House is located in Springfield. It was purchased and renovated by the non-profit Michael J. Dias Foundation through private fund-raising.

All renovations to the house were made through volunteer work and donations of materials, Dias said.

Marchetti, 27, of Agawam, has been hired to be the program director of the house. Marchetti is a recovered heroin addict.

“Heroin was my drug of choice,” he said. He said he also abused prescription drugs such as Oxycodone and Percocet while a student at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham and alcohol.
Many people don’t know that prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and Vicodin are as habit forming as heroin, he said.
Those who come to Michael’s House will be required to attend a morning and an evening meeting.
After 30 days, they will be required to look for work. They will be required to pay rent, shop for food and share housekeeping. The average length of stay of a man in the house will be six to 12 months, Marchetti said.
Marchetti said Michael’s House will use a 12-step recovery program which relies on spirituality and is the program used by people who are members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
“I want to help men who have been through a detox or 30-day rehabilitation program to realize through continued sobriety a quality of life they do not know is possible,” he said.
“I am very excited to be the director of this house,” Marchetti said. “This is my dream.”
More information about Michael’s House is available at michaeldiasfoundation.org.